Side bearing



y 2, 1939- Y A.'B. SEVERN 2,156,705

SIDE BEARING Filed July 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

y 2, 1939- A. B. SEVERN 2,156,705

SIDE BEARING Filed July 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A. B. SEVERN May 2, 1939.

SIDE BEARING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 3, 1957 FIG. 9

INVENTOR.

Patented May 2, 1939 PATENT oFFic SIDE BEARING Arthur B. Severn, Pittsburgh, Pa... assignor to A. Stucki, Pittsburgh, Pa;

Application July 3, 1937, Serial No. 151,938

12 Claims.

The invention pertains generally to railroad car side bearings of the type comprising a roller mounted on the car truck and a suitable plate mounted on the car body for engagement with .5; said roller. The invention pertains specifically to side bearings in which the roller is adjustably housed in a pocket on the truck bolster, such pocket may be integrally formed on the truck bolster or be in the form of a separate casting secured to the bolster.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive side bearing in which the portions subject to wear are readily removable for replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a side bearing of the character described in which the roller is vertically adjustable to facilitate mounting upon the car and to compensate for wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for obtaining the aforesaid vertical adjustment with a minimum of labor and expenditure of time;

In the drawings forming part of thisspecification, Fig. 1 shows in plan one form of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a section on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a section on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a plan View of a modificationof the invention; Fig. 5 shows a view on 30 lines 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a view on lines 'f 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 shows in plan view a second modification of the invention; Figs. 8 and 9 show sections on lines 8-8 and 9--9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is an end elevation of Fig. 7.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, reference character I indicates'a portion of a car truck bolster upon whose upper face adjacent each end of the bolster is a pocket or housing formed of upwardly extending side walls 40 2 and end walls 3 connecting the said side walls.

Disposed within the housing is a roller bearing plate comprising side walls 4 having the lower edges thereof connected by a web 5, the upper face 6 of which web is preferably concave for a purpose hereinafter set forth. This roller bearing plate may be a forging with the bottom face of the web 5 made flat but can be most economically made from fiat rolled bar stock which is out to length and pressed into shape. This latter type is shown in the drawings as having the web 5 formed with concave upper face and. convex lower face. In order to prevent the bearing from rocking as the roller moves along the web 5, flanges 1 are struck downward at each s end of theweb 5;. The rol er bearing Plate is preferably of less length than the length of the side walls 2 of the housing and in order to retain the bearing plate in fixed relation longitudinally of the housing side walls 2, the latter have offsets 8 therein of less depth than the thickness of the bearing plate and of a length greater than the length of the bearing plate side walls 4. When the bearing plate is disposed within the said housing and the roller 9 is disposed be- ,tween the side walls 4 and upon the concave face 1 6 of the bearing plate, the relation of the roller 9 to the bearing plate is such that the roller extends above the side walls 4 and engages with the end wall 3 of the housing before moving off the ends of the web 5. By having the bearing 15 plate side walls project beyond the plane of the pocket side walls there is no possibility of the roller 9 engaging the pocket side walls when projecting beyond the ends of the bearing plate. It will be obvious that the roller 9 when at one 20 end of the web 5 will tend to return by gravity to the center of the web 5 when released from the load of the body.

To provide for vertical adjustment of the roller 9 within the housing, shims II] are placed between the bearing plate web 5 and the bottom of the housing. These shims are held in place by engaging within the offsets 8 of the side walls 2 of the housing. In order to make the housing self-clearing and to prevent filling with debris during operation of the bearing, the end walls 3 of the housing have apertures ll adjacent the lower edges of the end walls. Disposed above the roller 9 is the usual car body bolster indicated as I2 and having a wear plate l3 engaged by roller 9 as the body rocks laterally of the car.

It will be obvious that with the side bearing shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings the vertical height of the roller may be adjusted by removing the roller 9, the roller bearing plate 5, and inserting or removing shims Ill through the top of the roller housing. The apertures II in the end walls 3 of the housing provide a convenient access to the shims for purposes of facilitating removal thereof as Well as an exit for debris.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, wherein a modification of the invention is shown, reference character I indicates a portion of a car truck bolster upon whose upper face adjacent each end of the bolster is an integral housing formed of side walls Hi -44 connected by end walls l5, each of the latter having apertures l6 near the base thereof to make the housing self-clearing as set forth in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. Within the housing is disposed a roller bearing plate similar to that previously described having side walls I! of less height and length than the housing side walls M and connected by a web 5 having a concave upper face 6 with flanges I at-each end thereof. Housing side wall M has an offset I8 therein of greater height and length than roller bearing plate side walls I! in order to retain the bearing plate in fixed relation to the housing side wall l4. Housing side wall M has an aperture I9 therein of greater length and height than side wall I! of the roller bearing plate and opposite the offset l8 in housing side wall M As shown in Fig. 4, the spacing between the walls of the roller bearing plate is less than between the walls M of the housing so that roller 9 does not engage the latter. At each side of aperture l9 and integrally formed with side wall M are lugs 2ll 2|l having suitably formed apertures 2| and 22 respectively for receiving a key 23. This key has a flat bearing face 24 disposed adjacent the bearing plate side wall IT to retain same within the housing and an inclined face 25 engaging the aperture 9 in lug 20 The thinner end of the key 23 is disposed within aperture 22 in lug 2|] and the inner wall of this aperture is preferably inclined to deflect the end of the key to retain same in position. This deflecting of the end of the key may be dispensed with and the engagement of the tapered portion of the key within aperture 2| in lug 20 may be depended upon to retain key 23 in place but deflecting the end of the key is preferable. As in the former embodiment of the invention, vertical adjustment of the roller 26 is obtained by inserting or removing shims 2'! from beneath the roller bearing plate. These shims are inserted through aperture l9 in housing side wall I4 and extend into offset |8 in housing side wall M. In assembling the bearing the roller bearing plate and shims are inserted within the housing through aperture H) of housing side wall l4", when the key 23 has been removed for this purpose, and are retained therein by the key 23 being passed through lugs 20 -20 In order to obtain vertical adjustment of the roller 9 of Figs. 1 to 3 it is necessary to raise the car body sufficient distance to remove the roller and bearing plate to insert or remove shims. In Figs. 4 to 6, if the body is not down upon the roller 26, key 23 may be removed and shims inserted or removed through aperture |9 in housing side wall I4 In the event the car body wear plate |2 is down upon roller 26, key 23 may be placed across side walls H of the housing, with tapered face 25 engaging the body wear plate l3 and the key struck with a hammer. The taper on the key will raise the car body sufficiently to relieve the weight on roller 26 to permit removing or adding a shim through aperture l9 as previously described. This feature is economically important as the adjustment can be made with the car in service by the usual car inspectors tools instead of requiring removal to the shop and raising the body by car jacks or other means to remove the roller as is the present practice.

Referring now to the third modification of the invention as disclosed in Figs. '7 to 10 inclusive of the drawings, reference character l indicates a portion of a railway car truck bolster upon whose upper face adjacent each end thereof is an integral housing comprising side walls 28 preferably extending to one edge of the bolster I and connected at one end by end wall 29 and adjacent the other ends by end wall 30 disposed inwardly from said edge of the bolster. The side Walls 28 adjacent said edge of the bolster have opposing flanges 28 forming with end wall 30 a guideway to receive key 3 I.

Intermediate the end walls 29 and 30 each side wall 28 has an offset 32 therein to receive the roller bearing plate 33, which may be similar to the roller bearing plate of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, which offsets are of a depth less than the thickness of the bearing plate 33. End walls 29 and 30 have apertures therein adjacent the upper face of the bolster, the aperture 34 in end wall 29 serving to make the bearing self-clearing, and aperture 35 in end wall 30 providing for the insertion of shims 35 beneath the roller bearing plate 33 and extending inwardly to end wall 39 within offsets 32. Each side wall 28 adjacent the end of the bearing plate 33 has an additional opening 31 therein to make the bearing self-clearing as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.

The roller 39 is disposed within the pocket and moves longitudinally thereof upon bearing plate 33. This roller is of sufficient diameter to project above the pocket side walls 28 and engage end walls 29 and 38 before moving off the bearing plate 33.

The key 3| inserted in the guides formed by the flanges 28 with the end Wall 30 closes that end of the bearing and serves to retain the shims 36 in position. This key 3| is preferably made of soft steel and the bottom portion of the outer face of end wall 30 is curved as shown in the drawings for the purpose of a partial distortion of the key to retain same in position. The key 3| has a head 38 projecting outwardly from the key to provide a portion to be struck by hammer or other tool for the purpose of removing the key to gain access to the shims when removing or inserting shims from beneath the roller bearing plate 36 and through aperture 35 in end wall 30.

Throughout the specification and as shown by the drawings, the roller housing has been shown as integrally formed upon the truck bolster. Such an arrangement has the economic advantage of reducing the number of bolts or rivets and provides a cheaper housing. It will be understood that a separate casting can be used to provide a roller housing if desired.

The drawings and specifications disclose What is now contemplated as the preferred forms of my invention. Many changes in the details of construction will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood I do not wish to limit myself to the exact forms of the invention as disclosed except as necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a truck bolster of a housing formed thereon comprising side and end walls projecting above the face of the bolster, offsets in the opposing faces of the housing side walls and extending upwardly from the bases thereof, said offsets being spaced from the pocket end walls, a U-shaped roller bearing plate disposed within said offsets and provided with side walls spaced apart a lesser distance than said housing side walls, a fiat-sided roller disposed within said housing and movable therein upon said bearing plate, said roller projecting above said pocket side walls and engaging the adjacent housing end walls when approaching the ends of the bearing plate, and shims disposed beneath the bearing plate, said shims being positioned within the housing by engagement with said housing side wall offsets.

2. The combination with a truck bolster of a housing integrally formed thereon comprising side and end walls projecting above the upper face of the bolster, a U-shaped roller bearing plate within said housing and comprising spaced side walls connected by a bottom web, said bearing plate side walls being of less length than the housing side walls and engaging a projected portion thereof to limit relative horizontal movement therebetween, shims disposed between said bearing plate web and the upper face of the bolster, and a roller disposed within the housing between said bearing side walls for movement longitudinally thereof upon the web of the bearing plate, said roller being of sufficient diameter to project above the housing side walls whilst moving along the bearing plate, and to engage the adjacent housing end wall before moving off the end of the roller bearing plate.

3. The combination in an adjustable roller side bearing of a roller retaining housing having side and end walls, a U-shaped roller bearing plate within said housing and having side walls of less length than the housing side walls, means on said housing for positioning said bearing plate intermediate the housing end walls, a roller within said housing and movable longitudinally of the housing side walls upon the said bearing plate and between the side walls thereof, said roller extending above the housing side walls and engaging the housing end walls before moving oil the said bearing plate, each end wall being spaced from the adjacent end of the bearing plate and forming therewith a receptacle for debris entering the bearing, and apertures in the housing walls adjacent the ends of the roller bearing plate to permit discharge of said debris and removable shims beneath said roller bearing plate.

4. The combination with a truck bolster of a housing integrally formed thereon comprising upwardly extending side and end walls, a pressed metal roller bearing plate therein comprising side walls and a connecting bottom web, said connecting web having a concave upper face, a convex bottom face and flanged end portions directed away from the concave upper face, a roller within said housing and upon the web of the bearing plate, said roller projecting above said housing side Walls and retained upon said concave face of the said bearing plate web through engagement with the housing end walls.

5. In a roller side bearing, the combination of a housing having end, side and bottom walls, a roller bearing plate having flat side walls of less length than said housing side walls and a concave bottom wall connecting the side walls, said concave bottom wall having depending flanges at the free ends thereof supported by said housing bottom wall, and means on said housing spacing said bearing plate between said housing end walls.

6. In a roller side bearing in combination, a housing having side and end walls and a base, a roller bearing plate formed of a fiat plate and having flat side walls and a concave connecting web with depending flanges at opposite ends of said web, a roller within said housing and upon said bearing plate between the side walls thereof, id bearing plate side Walls being of a length greater than the diameter of said roller and of a height not less than substantially one-half the diameter of said roller.

7. In a roller side bearing in combination, a housing having spaced side and end walls and a connecting bottom wall, a roller bearing plate of generally U-shape consisting of flat side walls and a concave connecting web with depending end flanges supported by said housing bottom wall, a roller between said bearing plate side walls and supported upon said concave connecting web, said roller being spaced from said housing side walls by said bearing plate side walls and being freely movable upon said concave bearing plate web and between said housing end walls.

8. The combination in a roller side bearing of an open top housing including connected side and end walls extending upwardly from the base of said housing, a roller bearing plate within said housing between said housing side walls, said plate including vertically disposed side walls spaced apart a lesser distance and of less vertical height than said housing side walls, the inner face of one housing side wall having an offset extending upwardly from said housing base a distance greater than the vertical height of the ad-- jacent bearing plate side wall, the opposite housing side wall having an aperture extending upwardly from the base of said wall, said bearing plate being insertable through said aperture into said oifset, a plurality of removable shims extending across said bearing plate and disposed between said bearing plate and housing base, said shims being inserted through said aperture, a roller supported within said housing upon said bearing plate for movement thereon between said housing end walls and retained in spaced relation to said housing side walls by means of said bearing plate side walls, and movable means mounted on said apertured housing side wall to retain said bearing plate and shims within said housing.

9. The combination in a roller side bearing of an open top housing including connected side and end Walls extending upwardly from the base of said housing, a roller bearing plate within said housing between said housing side walls, said plate including vertically disposed side Walls spaced apart a lesser distance and of less vertical height than said housing side walls, the inner face of one housing side wall having an offset extending upwardly from said housing base a distance greater than the vertical height of the adjacent bearing plate side wall, the opposite housing side wall having an aperture extending upwardly from the base of said wall, said bearing plate being insertable through said aperture into said offset, a plurality of removable shims extending across said bearing plate and disposed between said bearing plate and housing base, said shims being inserted through said aperture, a roller supported within said housing upon said bearing plate for movement thereon between said housing end walls and retained in spaced relation to said housing side walls by means of said bearing plate side walls, and movable means mounted on said apertured housing side wall toretain said bearing plate and shims within said housing, said means including a member, one wall of which has an inclined face whereby the member may be laid across the walls of said housing as a wedge Where necessary to release said roller from the weight of the car body in changing the number of said shims beneath the roller bearing plate.

10. In an adjustable roller side bearing in combination, an open top housing having side and end walls extending upwardly from, a housing base, opposing faces on said housing side walls having offsets therein extending from the top to adjacent the base of the side wall and in spaced relation to each end wall, a roller bearing plate disposed in said housing and comprising side walls disposed in said offsets and a connecting base, the opposing faces of said bearing plate side walls being spaced apart a lesser distance than corresponding faces of said housing side walls, one end Wall of said housing having an aperture therein extending upwardly from said housing base for extension of removable shims beneath said bearing plate base, a plurality of removable shims disposed beneath said bearing plate and means on said apertured end wall for retaining said shims in position.

11. In an adjustable roller side bearing in combination, an open top housing having side and end walls extending upwardly from a housing base, opposing faces on said housing side walls having offsets therein extending from the top to adjacent the base of the side wall and in spaced relation to each end wall, a roller bearing plate disposed in saidhousing and comprising side walls disposed in said offsets and a connecting base, the opposing faces of said bearing plate side walls being spaced apart a lesser distance than correspending faces of said housing side walls, one end Wall of said housing having an aperture therein extending upwardly from said housing base for extension of removable shims beneath said bearing plate base, a plurality of removable shims disposed beneath said bearing plate and means on said apertured end wall for retaining said shims in position, said means including spaced opposing re-entrant vertical flanges on said end Wall, a key movably mounted beneath said flanges and a suitable abutment at the base of said flanges for deflecting the engaging end portion of said key to retain same in position.

12. In a roller side bearing in combination, an open top roller housing having side and end Walls and a connecting base, a removable bearing plate including spaced side Walls and a connecting base supported by said housing base, said bearing plate side walls being spaced apart a lesser distance than said housing side walls and of a length less than said housing side walls, means on said housing side walls engaging said bearing plate side walls to position the bearing plate in spaced relation to the housing end walls, and a roller mounted on the base of said bearing plate between the side walls thereof and retained thereby in spaced relation to said housing side walls.

ARTHUR B. SEVERN. 

